Vaughan -- the Yorkshire batsman who led England as they clinched
the Ashes for the first time in 18 years in 2005 -- is recovering
from having a career-threatening fourth operation on his right
knee last month.
“There is an area of the knee that’s very worn and
there was a split in the cartilage.
“They (doctors) tell me the operation has been successful,
but we’ll only know for certain after much rehab,”
he was quoted as saying in the British Press last month.
However, the England and Wales Cricket Board said he would be
(if everything goes as well with the rehab) targeting a return
in 2007, with a view for the World Cup in the Caribbean in March.
The First Test of the Ashes series begins in Brisbane on November
23.
Michael Vaughn has not played for England since returning home
early from the tour of India in February.
This column today, profiles the outstanding England skipper --
who has a track-record of 19 victories from 33 Tests at the helm
of England cricket and who presided over a gruelling, triumphant
passage in English Test cricket.
Born in Manchester, England, on October 29, 1974, Michael Paul
Vaughan is a 6 feet 2 inches tall, right-handed star batsman --
who briefly enjoyed a crack at No. 1 in the world in 2002.
Vaughan made his county debut in 1993, was subsequently capped
in 1995, made his Test debut in 1999/2000 and ODI debut in 2000/01.
Statistically and win percentage-wise, Vaughan is the most successful
of all 29 men who have captained England in 10 Tests or more since
1877.
As a captain, Vaughan led from the front -- a good honest guy
but an implacable opponent -- he has prove to be his own man --
he is obstinate, has vim and drive sprinkled with cheeky humour.
His even-tempered, loose-limbed demeanour is deceptive as he showed
in the last Ashes battle when England triumphed 2-1.
He has always lived by his own motto -- “I’ll do what’s
best for the team”.
Presentability, on-field presence, media savvy and leadership
-- they all describe Michael Vaughan.
In 2002, he completed the calendar year with an England record
aggregate of 1,481 runs (average 61.70) hitting six hundreds.
As a batsman, he is tall and uses his height to drive balls others
might be obliged to defend.
Vaughan at Test level, scores his runs at a decent lick -- a swift
and nimble player he watches the ball closely and is very strong
off the back foot -- his pull shot is reminiscent to the world’s
premier opener -- Matt “Maverick” Hayden.
Vaughan is the third batsman in history to notch a century in
each innings of a Test at Lord’s -- George Headley (1939)
and Graham Gooch (1990) the others.
He has scored 10 of his 15 Test hundreds in England.
Following are his tons:
120 v P Manchester 2001
115 v SL Lord’s 2002
100 v I Lord’s 2002
197 v I Nottingham 2002
195 v I The Oval 2002
177 v A Adelaide 2002
145 v A Melbourne 2002
183 v A Sydney 2003
156 v SA Birmingham 2003
105 v SL Kandy 2003/04
140 v WI St. John’s 2004
103 + 101 not out
v WI Lord’s 2004
120 v B Lord’s 2005
166 v A Manchester 2005
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